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Democrats reach out to Pat Toomey on guns

Democrats are reaching out to Toomey for support on expanding background checks. | AP Photo

Manchin’s office would not comment directly on the talks with Toomey, the Pennsylvania Republican who has been a loyal NRA ally and backer of gun-rights legislation during his time in Congress. Toomey also has serious conservative credibility given his time as head of the Club for Growth.

“Senator Manchin continues to talk to all of his colleagues,” said Jonathan Kott, Manchin’s spokesman.

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Toomey also was tight-lipped on the issue. “Sen. Toomey is talking to a lot of folks on this issue in hopes that we can have a strong bipartisan agreement in the Senate,” a Toomey aide said in response to questions about the Manchin discussions.

A Manchin-Toomey deal on background checks would be a key development on an issue being pushed hard by Obama and top administration officials, as well as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

“Manchin and Toomey are talking, and that’s where everybody is hoping something comes together,” a top Senate Democratic aide said.

Support from a key Republican such as Toomey will prove crucial to any progress on the high-profile gun control bill. Several conservative GOP senators, including Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Ted Cruz (Texas) and Mike Lee (Utah), have threatened to filibuster the motion to proceed to the gun bill, which would severely limit Majority Leader Harry Reid’s options on bringing a broad gun package to the floor.

Right now, with no deal on background checks, the only proposal to get bipartisan backing would expand penalties on gun trafficking and some additional funding for school safety. Reid has vowed to force separate votes on an assault weapons ban and a prohibition on high-capacity ammunition magazines, but the Nevada Democrat refused to include these measures in the overall Democratic bill when it reaches the floor.

Reid also faces pressure to protect red state Democrats up for reelection in 2014 on this hugely controversial issue. Some of these Democrats would be happy to vote against the assault weapons ban, but would support any bipartisan background checks agreement.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is preparing his own alternative gun bill, another factor complicating the endgame on the Senate floor.